J Korean Med Assoc.  2024 Sep;67(9):566-572. 10.5124/jkma.2024.67.9.566.

Cardiac rehabilitation for patients with coronary artery disease

• Lee JW

• KMID: 2559645
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2024.67.9.566

Abstract

Background
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in Korea, with high rates of recurrence and mortality associated with relapse. Therefore, various strategies are required to prevent recurrent CAD. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is proven to be safe and highly effective and is therefore considered essential treatment for secondary prevention of CAD. CR is reimbursed in Korea since February 2017.
Current Concepts
CR comprises the following main components: education, evaluation, and treatment. CR education includes increasing awareness regarding the chronic risk factors associated with CAD and motivating patients to manage these factors independently. Such management includes smoking cessation, moderation in alcohol consumption, weight management, maintenance of physical activity, medication adherence, and psychosocial interventions. CR evaluation through cardiopulmonary exercise tests is useful to predict prognosis and provides basic information for exercise prescriptions. CR treatment includes prescription of a personalized exercise program, with aerobic exercise as the main component supported by resistance training.
Discussion and Conclusion
CR is an important treatment modality that significantly improves exercise capacity while reducing readmission rates and mortality in patients with CAD . Therefore, it is essential to understand CR methods and concepts and encourage patients with CAD to participate in CR programs.

Keyword

Cardiac rehabilitation; Coronary artery disease; Secondary prevention; 심장재활; 관상동맥질환; 이차예방